A Tasmanian coastal town known for blue penguins, fresh lobster rolls and a population just over 1,000 has been crowned the best town in Australia.
Bicheno, on Tasmania’s east coast, has topped Australian Traveller’s 100 Best Towns list for 2026. It also took out the best emerging town category.
The win caps years of quiet momentum that has transformed the fishing port into one of the country’s most exciting holiday destinations.
Sitting between two icons – Bay of Fires to the north and Wineglass Bay to the south – Australian Traveller said Bicheno has stepped firmly into the spotlight in its own right.
A new wave of openings has also reshaped the town. Le Gulch wine bar pours Tassie bubbles and shucks oysters from an old fishing factory on the water.
Waubs Harbour Distillery turns out award-winning single malt whisky from a converted oyster hatchery, with tastings held in what used to be the town’s fish and chip shop.
A new luxury stay, Sea Stacks Bicheno, opens for bookings in June.
The timber-clad cabins are built around a blue penguin colony, with elevated boardwalks so the birds can keep nesting underneath.
Tourism Minister Jane Howlett said the result reflected the dedication of operators across the region.
“Bicheno topping the list as Australia’s best town is a fantastic result and a real testament to the passion of our tourism and hospitality operators who work hard to showcase the best of what our regions have to offer,” Howlett said.
One in three jobs in the region depends on visitors – the most tourism-reliant patch of the country. Statewide, the figure is one in six.
Tourism Tasmania chief executive Sarah Kingston Clark said the town had earned its moment.
“Travellers today want more than a destination. They want to meet the people behind the produce, understand the stories that shape a place, and feel like they belong, even if only for a few days,” Kingston Clark said.
“Bicheno does this quietly and genuinely.”
Ten Tasmanian towns made the top 100.
Stanley took out the History and Heritage category and placed 17th overall, with St Helens at 13, Richmond at 18 and Launceston at 26.
It rounds out a landmark year for the state.
Port Davey was named in TIME’s World’s Greatest Places, Bay of Fires made the BBC’s beach rankings and Wineglass Bay landed in the World’s 50 Best Beaches.
